Leicaflex

Infobox camera
camera_name = Leicaflex

---

type = 35 mm SLR camera
lens_mount = Leica R bayonet
focus = manual
exposure = manual
flash = hot shoe
frame-rate =
dimensions = The Leicaflex was the first series of 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras manufactured by Leitz. The Leicaflexes were fully mechanical cameras marketed between 1964 and 1976, in response to the rapid increase in popularity and usability of SLRs during this period. They were extremely durable, and superbly finished, but their appeal was limited by their failure to keep pace with the state of the art in SLR design, their somewhat limited selection of accessories, and their extremely high price in comparison with their Japanese competitors. They were ultimately replaced by the R series Leicas developed by Leitz with the assistance of Minolta under a cooperation agreement between the two companies.

Leitz was a reluctant entrant into the SLR market. At the beginning of the 1960s, the only still cameras manufactured by Leitz were 35mm rangefinders, a camera design that its Japanese competitors, most notably Nippon Kōgaku (Nikon), were beginning to abandon in favor of SLR designs. The company's management continued to believe in the inherent advantages of the rangefinder design over the SLR, but in view of the steady shift in market share from rangefinders to SLRs such as the Nikon F, the Asahi Pentax and the SR-series Minolta in the early 1960s, and the increasing prominence of high quality SLR cameras among professional photographers, it had little choice but to offer an SLR of its own. To compete in this market Leitz introduced a superbly finished, extremely solid and expensive SLR, called Leicaflex. Nowadays, this first Leicaflex model is generally referred to as the Original Leicaflex or Leicaflex Standard to distinguish it from the models that followed.

The Leicaflex lacked a few features present in the most advanced products of its time. It has been much criticized for omitting a through the lens (TTL) exposure meter of the type which had previously been incorporated into the Topcon RE Super and the Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, and which would soon appear in the Nikon F Photomic T, Canon Pellix and a number of other reflex cameras. It also lacked the interchangeable viewfinders offered for the Miranda, Canonflex, and Nikon F. Finally, the original Leicaflex featured a finder which, while offering a very bright aerial image, was not full focusing, offering only a small focusing zone at the center. The Leicaflex did offer mirror lock-up, and shutter speeds up to 1/2000 visible in the finder.

The camera introduced a new three lug bayonet mount. This mount remains substantially unchanged to the present day, although the mount has been developed in order to accommodate increased levels of automation. The Leicaflex / Leica R lenses were and continue to be superb optics, however Leica has always offered a more limited range of reflex lenses than its Japanese rivals. At the time of the introduction of the Leicaflex the range was limited to 35mm, 50mm, 90mm and 135mm focal lengths of moderate speed.

The original Leicaflex is readily identifiable from its CdS meter window and battery cover on the front of the prism housing just above the lens. It was offered in chrome and black enamel finishes, the latter being rare. Diehard collectors distinguish between the first series with a fan-shaped exposure counter window and a tripod socket attached by three screws, and the second series with a round exposure counter window, a tripod socket integrated in the bottom plate and a meter switch built in the advance lever. In use, the two series are virtually identical. 32,500 serial numbers were allotted to the original Leicaflex. [http://www.cameraquest.com/rtype.htm List of serial numbers at Cameraquest] .

Accessories

* Motor drive for the Leicaflex SL Mot and SL2 Mot, named Leicaflex Motor

* Eveready case 14557
* Eveready bags

Notes

External links

* [http://www.kbcamera.com/leicaflex.htm Leicaflex] on KBCamera
* [http://www.summilux.net/r_system/Leicaflex.html Leicaflex]
* en icon [http://rlfc.world.coocan.jp/PlaywBody/R_Body/LeicaflexMkI/LeicaflexMkI.html Leicaflex Mark I]
* [http://www.kbcamera.com/leicaflex.htm Leicaflex] review at [http://www.kbcamera.com/ KB Camera]
* [http://www.ozdoba.net/leica/reflex_hist_e.html History of the Leica SLR cameras] in the [http://www.ozdoba.net/leica/leica_reflex_home_e.html Leica SLR website by Christoph Ozdoba]
* [http://www.cameraquest.com/rtype.htm List of Leica SLR serial numbers] at [http://www.cameraquest.com/ Cameraquest]
* [http://www.summilux.net/r_system/Leicaflex.html Original Leicaflex] at [http://www.summilux.net/ summilux.net]

*ja icon [http://homepage1.nifty.com/RLFC/ R Leica Fan Club website] , with the following pages:
** [http://rlfc.world.coocan.jp/PlaywBody/R_Body/LeicaflexMkI/LeicaflexMkI.html Leicaflex (first model)]
** [http://rlfc.world.coocan.jp/PlaywBody/R_Body/Leicaflex/leicaflex.html Leicaflex (second model)]
* [http://www.geocities.jp/dental2l/memo/memo.html Japanese page] with pictures of the Leicaflex 18×24 prototype

Other

* US patent by Leitz: " [http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US3083627&F=0 Monocular reflex camera] ", a patent for an SLR design filed 26 December 1961

Sources and references

* [http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Leicaflex Leicaflex] on Camerapedia